NDSC Interviews with Scott Hennen

NDSC Executive Director, Chuck Clairmont, was interviewed on the Scott Hennen Show regarding the 37th Annual Safety & Health Conference and Distracted Driving. Click here to hear the full interview.

Click here to learn whether
or not you’d survive an ejection.

NDSC Offers Free Work Zone Safety Training

BISMARCK, ND, Tuesday, December 15, 2009  – North Dakota experienced 3,002 injuries in road construction/work zones over the past 5 years. With the increased funding for transportation this past legislative session, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, and the current state of North Dakota’s highways, North Dakota will continue to see an increase in construction activity and workers on roadways. These workers, both experienced and inexperienced, will need work zone safety training in order to prevent work zone crashes, injuries and fatalities from seeing an increase, as well.

• Flagger Training – available online in January 2010
• Traffic Control for Supervisors – 16 hour classroom course
• Traffic Control for Construction Workers – 8 hour classroom course
• Emergency Preparedness for Remote Work Zones – 8 hour classroom course
• Work Zone Safety – 8 hour classroom course

To learn more about each course curriculum, click on each link above. For questions or to register for the free training, call the NDSC at 701-223-6372.

This free training was made possible through a Susan Harwood Grant from the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the support of the Associated General Contractors of ND. This material was produced under grant SH-19504-SH9 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

The North Dakota Safety Council offers these vehicle maintenance tips for a safe winter driving season:

• Check wipers and replace them if they show any signs of damage or aging. Also, check tires for wear. If a tire’s tread is less than 1.6 mm, the tire needs to be replaced.
• Only use winter or rubber floor mats specifically designed for your car. Mats flipped upside down or piled on top of one another can interfere with the pedals while driving.
• Check oil and other fluid levels. Only use the viscosity of oil called for in the owner’s manual.
• Make sure windshield washer fluid contains antifreeze. The wind chill of air moving against the windshield at even 30 mph can cause many washer fluids to freeze.
• Inspect the battery for corrosion, cracks, loose terminal connections and loose hold-down clamps.
• Update the emergency equipment in your car. Items to store include tire chains, a window scraper, a bag of sand or salt, flares, folding triangles, a small shovel and jumper cables.

Even if your vehicle is prepared for the winter, poor road conditions require sound judgment, patience and flexibility. Drive with caution and be sure to accelerate and brake gently. Leave plenty of distance between your car and others. Before traveling in bad weather, ask yourself, “Is this trip necessary?”

NDSC offers defensive driving courses including DDC-4 and Alive at 25® to improve driver safety. For more information about these courses, please call the NDSC at 701-223-6372.

Give the gift of safety this holiday season! Click here to download holiday safety fact sheets to share with your family, friends and co-workers.

Original article provided by the National Safety Council. 

Mine Foreman Certification

The North Dakota Safety Council is now offering Mine Foreman Certification testing at their new Beulah office. This new location allows for a quicker, more convenient way for people in central and western North Dakota to complete their testing. Students may take their test, have it graded and receive their certificate all the same day.

To be a supervisor on a coal mine site, and to do an on-shift inspection, individuals must take the Mine Foreman Certification exam and pass with an 80% to be certified. To take the exam, individuals should contact the North Dakota Safety Council to set up a date and time. The exam is offered at no charge. For those who feel they need Mine Foreman Certification training prior to taking the exam, there is a course offered by the North Dakota Safety Council. Click here to find the next class in your area.

With the current status of the oil industry in the western part of the state and the large presence of power plants and coal mines in this area, this new location provides an additional, convenient location for those who need training services. The new office is located at 213 Highway 49 South and is open from 8:00 am-5:00 pm MTD.

To inquire about the Mine Foreman Certification training or test, contact the NDSC's Beulah office by phone at 701-873-2224 or by email at ndsc@ndsc.org. You can also log on to www.ndsc.org to view our online training calendar to find training dates and locations in your area.